Written questions by Buckley.

Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to update the National AI Strategy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country. We will be ensuring that AI is used to drive the government’s missions and priorities. We are committed to building an AI sector that can scale and win globally, through the AI Opportunities Action Plan which will be published this Autumn. It will outline an approach to delivering the opportunities AI can bring across the system, setting out our governments ambition.

Whether her Department plans to continue the holiday activities and food programme after 2024.

The future of the Holiday Activities and Food programme beyond 31 March 2025, is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn. The department will communicate the outcome of that process in due course.

What steps she is taking to help tackle unpaid child maintenance.

The Department plans to bring forward changes to allow the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to make an administrative liability order against a person who has failed to pay child maintenance and is in arrears. The administrative liability order will replace the current requirement for the CMS to apply to the court for a liability order, which is an outdated process and can take up to 22 weeks. We expect the new liability order process to take around six to eight weeks, meaning the CMS can use its strong enforcement powers more quickly to go after those who wilfully avoid their financial obligations to their children.We will bring forward the legislation as soon as possible.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of funding arrangements for hospices.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care, including at end of life. We understand that, financially, times are difficult for many voluntary and charitable organisations, including hospices, due to the increased cost of living. We want a society where these costs are manageable for both voluntary organisations, like hospices, and the people whom they serve.The Government is going to shift the focus of healthcare out of the hospital and into the community, and we recognise that hospices will play a vital role. We will consider next steps, including funding, on palliative and end of life care more widely in the coming months.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of funding for hospices.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care, including at the end of their life. I know that hospices provide fantastic services to many people. The government is going to shift the focus of healthcare out of the hospital and into the community. We recognise the value of the voluntary sector, including hospices, and we will continue to work closely with the sector to understand the pressures they are under.